How Does Reality Tv Affect Society

In the past 15 years, the world of television has gone from having its first reality TV show to now having over 300. Although reality television was meant to make TV more like regular life, it is actually wreaking havoc on today’s society perception of real life by wrongly combining entertainment material with “real” life. In Brave New World people in the society go to watch “feelies”, a type of movie/television show unaware that the feelies purpose is to alter the citizens version of reality. Reality Television has several advantages and positive effects on today's society especially that it can give people a more relatable entertainment.

Throughout history beginning around the early 1980’s, reality television had impacted american viewers because it had introduced a new series of content fitting the lives of average american families. It had appealed to audiences, particularly these families, because it was relatable to the lives of society. For instance, beginning in 1983, “An American Family” aired on PBS, highlighting the important events of an average american family, such as an ending marriage, a business crash, and the outing of a homosexual son. Although popular, audiences had to get used to watching television without a laugh track, and a reality television show had introduced a new series of speculations, such as if the family were the same off camera, and if scenes were edited for dramatic effect. In much cases, reality television wasn’t meant to represent the lives of american families at all.

This supports my statement of reality tv are harmless because as we discover ourselves we might just find the career that gives you joy. "You can go from working at a Burger King drive-thru to fulfilling your lifelong dream of being an international pop star" as this quote from the article help proven that reality show is to help us for the better not worst. As shown this statement is a pro as it helps the viewer who tunes in. In the article a con is that the reality show put stereotype in for women, as they have no right, I would like to argue that this is not the case.

Reality television has become increasingly more popular and appears to be taking over the entertainment business. Psychologist Lawrence Rubin seems to think it all goes back to Aristotle, “The notion of being drawn to drama and tragedy”(Kinon, 2009). The viewer receives a false sense of “real life” and disconnects from their own “real life” by diving into someone else's. The effects these television shows have on society as a whole can be positive or negative depending on the message the show depicts. Shows such as “Jersey Shore”, “16 and Pregnant”, and “Dr. 90210” are a huge success to MTV but could be considered detrimental to society by painting distorted pictures of reality in the viewer’s mind. Shows including

Shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The Bachelor and The Real Housewives have been taking the country by storm with the unscripted, outrageously unpredictable stories of ordinary people from around the country. Americans spend thirty three percent of their free time watching television and sixty seven percent of the shows are reality television (Reality Television:a Shocking Statistic). The average American watches five hours of television a day, that means they spend three and a half hours a day watching reality television. This shows that reality television is affecting everyone's everyday lives. Reality television is harmful to our society because it promotes stereotypes, it leaves a lasting impression on young susceptible minds,

In the article Reality TV: Should We Really Watch? Elizabeth Larkins argues with the integrity of the genre of reality TV shows. She describes how watching one’s embarrassment or pain on TV and finding it humorous is wrong morally and mentally. Larkins describes how reality TV all began with one of the oldest reality shows “Candid Camera.” This show would broadcast hidden cameras of people in embarrassing or painful situations. It was a huge success, which ultimately started the popularity of the reality genre on television. Larkins also points out that most reality shows do not actually have any ‘reality’ in them. The producers of these shows cut and edit most of the scenes, skewing the actual reality. Larkins also discusses that reality shows portray racial stereotypes. She goes on and gives examples of several characters in real reality shows and how they depict racial stereotypes. Larkins concludes her essay with discussing how viewers should uphold a moral responsibility by not supporting these types of shows. She explains that the shows are made to make money and they do not uphold any type of honor or integrity.

The term, “reality television” suggests a certain degree of legitimacy or “realness.” However, this is not always the case, as some argue that reality television is based on deceit and manipulation. As the strategically edited footage is broadcasted across the globe, the damaging effects on girls and young women slowly start to emerge. According to Humphrys, reality programs create a “cult of celebrity, which fosters values that are utterly shallow and kill real ambition.” He further elaborates on this point by stating that girls are told “what matters is being a celebrity” (Humprhys).

Since reality TV’s entrance into American culture, there is a vague explanation of if this should be considered as a bona fide source of entertainment (Curnutt, 2013). To some extinct, reality TV provides a certain degree of realness. Though at an exaggerated state, theses shows’ actuality is used to attract consumers who can easily be allured by mass media (Curnutt, 2013). Even though these shows mainly focus on peoples’ lifestyle of some sort, networks make sure that they illuminate the casts’ misfortune. The use of this cruel concept should deter participants from partaking. Reality TV causes featured personalities to contemplate misleading fame over inadequate representations of their character. Real-life people are used instead of actors; not only because it is effortless to achieve their theory this way, but also they can highlight peoples’ internal desire to be actors by showing it externally (Curnutt, 2013). A better and more appealing reaction can be made from this seemingly fateful

There are many discussions about the effects of reality TV on society. Positive and negative effects of reality TV are two parts of a coin. Unfortunately the coin mostly falls on the negative side. Many reality TV shows are created purely for profit without thinking about its consequences on the mindsets of viewers, especially young viewers . Media companies accept that they make these shows for profit and they do not care about the effects on people. They say that they just show us what we want. Is it right not to care about the viewers mental health just to make more money? Most of these shows do not portray reality and this weakens

Lastly, reality television programs are detrimental to society because they humiliate many of the characters. This is detrimental to the characters because of obvious reasons such as suicide. The effects of this on society are even greater. Many people watch shows such as American Idol because they find it humorous when some of the characters have awful singing abilities, and therefore humiliate themselves. In my opinion, this makes many viewers bullies inside. If an individual watches the misfortune of others to make them feel better about themself, they are a bully. Therefore, reality television indirectly causes people to be bullies. Studies show that if a person has negative thoughts as a result of watching people humiliated on television; they may begin to

Media producers all around the world have discovered that so called “Reality Television” programs are the key to maximising viewer bases and therefore profits. It is undisputed that Reality Television makes money. This has resulted in immense amounts of these programs being plastered across our screens. While these programs line the pockets of producers and companies, they are not necessarily beneficial to their audiences and the society we live in.

When people turn on their televisions at home or they are watching television somewhere else, they will possibly find a reality show somewhere. Reality television shows have been on television for numerous years and are changing. Although reality television is wildly entertaining and popular, many young teens and adults look up to their favorite reality show actors and their lavish lifestyles and overdramatic antics. People who watch reality television regularly have different expectations and views on how the world actually works and feel differently about themselves. People follow their favorite reality show stars and it makes them want to change and leaving the rest of us wondering what reality actually is. Reality television isn’t real

American psychologist Leon Festinger’s “Social Comparison Theory” states that “We determine our own social and personal worth based on how we stack up against others.” As a result, we are constantly making comparisons between us and others. This theory comes into play in analyses of reality television’s popularity because it is something viewers habitually do when they are watching reality shows. Seeing the stars of a show engage in violent fights and horrid screaming matches gives viewers justification for the life they are living. If you were to ask several people who watch reality shows why they routinely do it, a majority would say it either makes them feel better about themselves or the stupidity of the show gives their mind a break, the former response being the most popular. According to one study, 19% of 18-24-year-old viewers use reality tv as a self-esteem boost. This self-justification is so prevalent because it is humanity’s involuntary weakness to look for

Reality Television shows are defined as a program purposely and continuously filmed and is intended for pure entertainment and not education. Reality shows can be found on almost every single television network, from PBS to The O Network. Many Americans are addicted and obsessed with these staged situations that they believe are part of some normal way of living. Television and reality shows have somehow become part of our everyday lives and made characters household names throughout the entire world. Networks that endorse these shows spend countless hours and money to try and depict a normal day and grab the watchers attention so the viewer not only relates to that person and our group of people, but also the viewer wants to know more about the individual and in some weird way live through these experiences by watching these shows . Usually there is a even numbers of men and women on each show, a few minorities and at least one homesexual/ lesbian, they networks are looking for individuals that the public

Reality TV is an abstract American dream; it adopts the willing and the desperate and transforms them into stars, whether famous or infamous. (Thousands of sub-genres captivate the world, and the idea that an ordinary citizen can become a celebrity seemingly overnight attracts thousands of eager participants, each with a unique and different perspective. Because of the lifestyles and character of the superstars, millions find themselves addicted to watching and obsessing over the shows that claim to be basic reality. The dramatic interpretations of everyday life are fed to an absorbed audience, and the often wild behaviors of reality television stars are emulated and urged into American culture.) Therefore, reality television pushes a distorted image of success and failure on American society.